Machelle Pharr is the Chief Financial Officer for the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS). Machelle joined ERS in June2014 as the Assistant Director of Finance for Budgeting and General Accounting with 30 years of state service. Before joining ERS, Machelle served as the Chief Financial Officer for the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (now the Texas Commission on Environment Quality), the Texas Department of Health, and the Texas Department of State Health Services. In her current role, she leads a team of professionals dedicated to providing high quality, effective and efficient financial services in support of ERS’ mission and goals.The Finance Division works closely with other divisions and external agencies to develop and operate an effective system of financial controls, accounting and budgeting.

Machelle received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin, and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and Certified Government Financial Manager.